Do you have documents or other personal papers around the house that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands? There are limited spots open to take part in El Paso County’s LETTER RIP event and have the documents properly destroyed and help fight identity theft.
The County’s Community Services Department Environmental Division announced that registration is open for the drive-thru document shredding event that will take place Saturday, May 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in downtown Colorado Springs on Vermijo Street between Cascade Avenue and Sahwatch Street. To prevent long wait times and manage traffic congestion, LETTER RIP is by appointment only.
Those interested must register at www.LetterRip2018.eventbrite.com. Participants will then bring their printed or electronic ticket to the May 5 event to gain admittance.
“Once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, file a tax refund in your name and get your refund or get medical treatment on your health insurance,” said Kathy Andrew, Environmental Division Manager. “Shredding documents with personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft. Your personal information is what identity thieves are after. Your date of birth and Social Security number are especially vulnerable, so make sure anything that has those numbers goes through the shredder.”
El Paso County Community Services Department Environmental Division, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the El Paso County District Attorney, the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado, KKTV News 11, Ent Credit Union and Mobile Record Shredders are collaborating on this effort to facilitate easy record disposal. The initiative will help people avoid large personal cost in the event of having their identity stolen.
Participants can bring up to three standard-size copy paper boxes to LETTER RIP for free. There will be a $5 charge for each additional box of similar or smaller size. Participants are allowed up to six boxes, no larger than 11x17x11. No bags are allowed. All money raised will go to support the Better Business Bureau scholarship fund.
Drop-off instructions: Drivers can approach the drop-off area on Vermijo Street from Southbound Cascade Avenue or from northbound Sahwatch Street.
Registration instructions: Go to www.LetterRip2018.eventbrite.com or call 719-520-7878 for more information or for assistance.